Automatic apparatus for machining curved stereotype-plates.



H. PEARCE, T; R. G. PARKER & W. E. BENNISON. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FORMACHINING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCTT 261 1914.

H. PEARCE, T. R. G. PARKER & W. E. BENNISON. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FORMACHiNlNG CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPUCATION FILED (K1126 1914. 1 $33 698 Patented Ju1y17, 1917.

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@ W' M @YS H. PEARCE, T. R. G PARKER 62 W. E. BENNISON. IAUTOMATIOAPPARATUS FOR MACHINING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES.

lygggflqggfim APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, 1914- Patented TSHEETS-SHEET 3.

PEARCE, T. R. G. PARKER & W. E. BENNISON. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FORMACHINING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. I'9l4.

Patented July 17, 1917.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IIIII|II IIIIi H. PEACE 7". R.G. PARKER WE-EEN/VISOJV H. PEARCE, T. R.G. PARKER 6; W. E. BENNISON.

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR MACHINING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES;

APPLICATION man 061226. 1914. v v Patented July 1'7, 191?.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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H. PEARCE, T. R. G: PARKER 61 W E. BENNISON. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FORIVIACHININGCURVED 'STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, I914.

' Patented July 17; 1917.

TSHEETS-SHEET I.

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HERBERT PEARCE, THOMAS ROBERT GILLETT PARKER, AND WILLIAM EDWARD BEN-NISON, 0F BROADHEATH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS T0 WOOD NEWSPAPER MACHINERYCORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.-

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR MACHINING CURVED STEREOTYPE-PLATES.

Application filed October 26, 1914,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT PEARCE, THOMAS ROB RT GILLETT PARKER, andWIL- LIAM EDWARD BENNISON, subjects of the King of Great Britain,residing at Broadheath, in the county of Chester, England, have inventeda new and useful Automatic Apparatus for Machining CurvedStereotype-Plate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of improvements in automatic apparatus formachining curved stereotype plates moved through it along a runway withalternate motion and dwell, by a horizontally reciprocating traverser,the machining including cooling the castplates.

There are known at the present time, different types of automaticapparatus, each more or less for the purpose stated and which types,taking them in chronological order, are respectively characterized bythe following features:

(a) Casting two plates of the same length and weight simultaneously inas many horizontal molds axially alined with each other and consistingof a hollow cylinder either side of which serves in turn as core to acope thereunder; turning the cylinder about its axis through half acircle after each cast to carry the plates out of their molds, the otherside of it at the same time making with the said cope, the mold for thenext cast; engaging one end of the crown of each plate by a traverserwhich by a horizontal movement in a guide fixed above the plate crowns,moves one of the plates along fixed horizontal ways and through a vacantspace intermediate of the adjacent ends of the molds and a shaving archinto the latter, and the other .of them into the said space, the nextsimilar movement of the traverser moving the last mentioned plate intothe said arch, thereby making it push its predecessor out of the same;truing the straight sprue-edge of each plate as it is being moved towardthe shaving arch, by a saw rotating in its path about a fixed axis, and,when it is within, and clamped to, the said arch, boring its concaveface, truing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dail 17, ieiv.

Serial No. 868,748.

both its ends, and removing unnecessary metal from near the page headingto intprove the effective relief of the latter.

(1)) Laying an unmachined plate fresh from an independent mold with itsstraight side edges resting upon an inclined runway down which it slidesby gravity as soon as an automatic stop engaging its two lead ing sideedges releases it, so that it moves past or over rotating cutters whichtrue its straight side edges, into the shaving arch up to a stopautomatically pushed into the path of its crown, or into that of each ofits two leading side edges at a level just above its straight sideedges; raising it off the runway up to the arch, clamping it to thelatter, subjecting it to a preliminary cooling, shaving its concave faceand perfecting its ends; unclainping, lowering and releasing it,whereupon it slides farther down the said runway into the main cooler;

projecting a stop into its path as it approaches that cooler and turninga cooling spray on to both its faces as it enters, the stop beingwithdrawn by the approach of the succeeding plates, whereupon the cooledplate slides farther down the runway between rotary drying brushes on toan ex posed part of the runway and against a stop there.

(0) Springing the sides of a plate toward each other by automatic jawsengaging its typeless margins just before it is raised up off therunway, disengaging them just before clamping and reengaging them justbefore lowering and disengaging again after lowering, the object beingto prevent the side type surfaces of the plate being scrubbed againstthe sides of the arch, the jaws being worked by means independent of theplate-raising and -lowering means. Applying the water to only theconcave face of a plate and securing an even delivery of water throughthe crown of the inclined saddle by dividing it transversely intocompartments to each of which was assigned a special supply pipe anddelivery port.

(at) Preventing the rebound of a plate from the exit stop of the shavingarch by a pivoted stop which is held by a spring locked in contact withthe following end of the plate as soon as the latter has come up to thesaid exit stop.

(6) Holding the supply valve of the main cooling spray normally open byits own spring, automatically closing it by a cam and looking it closed,by a lever which is rocked to unlock the valve by either the exit stopat the shaving arch or by the approach of the plate to its coolingposition, the work of so rocking the lever being eased by the said camwhich, at that moment, tends to close the valve and does close it assoon as the cooled plate is ready to slide away from the coolingposition.

The above-mentioned improvements respectively relate to:

1. The horizontal plate traverser:

2. The plate-rebound preventer and absorber:

3. The platespringing-in jaws: V

4. The means for locating a plate at the head of the runway:

5. The plate-stop at the exit end of the shaving arch: and i 6. The maincooler.

The accompanying figures illustrate a preferred constructional form ofthe invention. In them Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plancorresponding therewith;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the plate clamping and springing devices;

Fig.4 is a section on the line 44 of (Fig.

1 of the traverser:

Fig. 5 is a detail plan of the plate-locating means:

Fig. 6 is a side elevation corresponding 1 therewith therewith Fig. 7 isa detail plan of the roller track within the shaving arch:

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of the shaving arch, its runway, andplate stop at the exit end of it:

Fig. 9 is a half front elevation of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional side elevation of the plate-stops at. theexit end of the shaving arch;

I Fig. 11 is a front elevation corresponding Fig. .12 is a detail plan;Fig. 13, a longitudinal section; and 14, a detail front elevation of themain cooler;

Fig. 15 is a detail side elevation and Fig.

16, a section on line 1616 thereof, of a plate-traversing-finger trip;

Fig. 17 is a detail side elevation of a modified driving gear for thetraverser; and

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional plan of the plate-rebound-preventer orabsorber.

1, 1 are the two side frames of the apparatus duly braced together toconstitute the main frame of the latter; 2, a fixed centralplate-receiving table alincd with the runway; 3, 4, a fixed platereceiving table on each side of the table 2 to receive plates when thaton the said table has not yet been pushed forward off it; 5, 6, the twoseries of rollers constituting the runway; 7, the shaving arch; 8, thecam shaft; 9, 10, the cams for respectively raising the plate-support 11and the plate-clamp 12; 13, the cam for working the springing-in jaws14, 14;

15 is the boring knife for shaving the concave face of a plate 16, and17, 18, the knives for respectively grooving the leading and followingends, all on the shaft 19. The main cooler consists of a saddle 20having external horizontal ribs 21, feed pipe 23 controlled by valve 24having feed and exhaust pipes 25, 26, opening spring 27, closing cam 28fast on shaft 19 and closing lever 29 (see Figs. 13 and 14). A lever 30rocked by spring 31 through a connection 32 to positively hold the valve24 looked after it has been closed. It is unlocked by a plate 16 througharm 22 and connection 33, as the said plate is being traversed intocooling position over the saddle 20. The spring 27 can then open it andhold it open until the said plate clears the arm 22 as it is beingtraversed to the high speed drier 34. This is driven by gear 35 from thesaid shaft 19. 36 is a motor connected by a belt drive 37 to a drivingpulley 38 fast on a transverse shaft 39 carrying a worm 40 engaging aworm gear 41 on the shaft 19. The cam shaft 8 above-mentioned is drivenat the same rate as the shaft 19 by an intermediate and suitablyproportioned train of gears 42, 43, 44. 45 is a stationary arch servingas a gear-guard. All the foregoing parts are well-known.

Improved horizontal plate-trcwerscr.0ne object of this part of theinvention is to adapt an apparatus of the stated type to machine platesof different lengths and weights. This is attained by a combination of ahorizontally reciprocating traverser bar on each side of the apparatusat the level of the runway; a finger on each bar for each separateforward motion of the plate, the fingers on one bar being respectivelyopposite those on the other, and located thereon to engage with thefollowing end of a plate so as to pull it along the runway; means formaking the fingers, during their return motions, clear the respectiveplates; means for replacing them in plate-engaging positions in time fortheir next traversing motions; and means for reciprocating the two barsin unison.

This capacity for machining plates of different lengths and weights isof grave importance at the present time. Apparatus of the type (a) abovedescribed, reached, at the time it was brought out, now about sixteenyears ago, the high water mark of excellence in automatic stereotypeplate making machinery. But although it was developed far enough in thedirection of dealing with more than one plate at a time, to cast and machine two plates at a time, it limited itself to these two plates beingof the same length and weight. It has a single horizontal traverser withtwo dependent fingers, the traverser working in a guide fixed above thecrowns of the plates. Since that time a de mand has arisen for apparatuscapable of casting more than one length and conse quently weight, ofplate. The characteristic feature of the (7)) type of apparatus from thetraverser point of view, was that the plates, cast in a separateapparatus, were carried by gravity one after the other down an inclinedrunway from one end of it to the other. It is quite a common thing atthe present time, to supply apparatus capable of casting three differentsizes and weights of plate, and as soon as such apparatus was on themarket, apparatus of type (b) were made which could machine all thosesizes. Now seeing that apparatus of type (a) was limited to a singlelength and weight of plate, it follows that the practical problems inmachining plates caused by differences in length or in weight or inboth, could not occur with that type and that the latter could not offerany solution of them.

Use of the type (Z2) has shown the followmg (I) As to differences inlength. A plate sliding down its runway may engage either the stop atthe exit end of the shaving arch by its crown, or the stops by itssides, as already explained. As between a long and a short plate, eachengaging the stop by its crown, the following end of the long plate, inour opinion, tends to, and sometimes actu ally does, kick up, but thatof a short plate does not. In the case of plates engaging the stops bytheir sides, the following end of a short plate kicks up and that of along plate does not.

(II) As to difference in weight as well as in length. The momentum ofany plate is according to the well known law and these differences arebeyond the control of the ap paratus that has to machine them and are,so to speak, unknown to it. It follows, therefore in our opinion, thatit is impossible to prevent the plates in a gravity traverser apparatusfrom kicking up or to secure a regularity in rebound from the stop orstops.

(III) It has always been necessary to provide for a little lateral playon the part of a plate sliding down the runway, and the unmachinedplates although they might have been cast in the same mold, varied alittle in radius, the consequence being that although a plate might beset with the leading ends of its sides up to stops at the head of therunway which would be withdrawn out of its path to letit slide down therunway, it would do the latter on the skew. But with a horizontaltraverser pulling a plate from both sides of its following end, theplate must travel with its leading end at right angles with the runway.

In the illustrated constructional form of the above mentionedco1nbination,see Figs. 2, 4: to 6, 15 and 16A6 is a horizontal traverserbar working in a suitable guide in or on the respective side frame 1.These two bars 46 are replicas of each other and are at every momentopposite each other whether they are at rest or whether they are atwork. A traverser has as many motions and dwells in each operativetraverse of it from the plate-receiving end of the apparatus to theopposite one, as there are fixed positions in which some part of thewhole machining is done to the plate. For instance, in the apparatusillustrated there are shown three such fixed positions, (a) the shavingarch 7, (b) the main cooler 20 and (c) the drier 3-1. Consequently, theimproved traverser for such an apparatus must have three motions, eachone succeeded by a dwell, the first motion being from the startingposition into the shaving arch 7 the second out of that arch to over themain cooler saddle 20; and the third from over that saddle to over thedrier 34. Each motion is followed by a dwell during which therespectivepart of the whole machining is done to the plate, that is to say, boringand end grooving in the arch 7, cooling while the bored and endgroovedplate is over the saddle 20; and drying the concave face wetted by thecooler, while the cooled plate is over the drier 34:. The inventionimposes no limit to the number of positions andthe consequent motionsand dwells.

The traversing and return motions of a traverser have, preferably, acommon rate. Further, the combined term of a return and a traversingmotion, is approximately the same as that of a dwell.

There is a pair of fingers for each of the above-mentioned fixedpositions, and all the fingers are, functionally, replicas of eachother. A finger 4E7see Fig. 18is pivoted upon a vertical pivot 48 fastin the respective traverser bar and works in a horizontal plane in atransverse seating 49 formed in the bar 46 between its top and bottomfaces. It is so proportioned and its pivot 48 so positioned withreference to the bar 46, that when it is in plate-ngaging position, itsengaging or traversing face 50 stands at right angles withthe said bar.Its opposite face 51 may be either parallel with the face 50 V cavity 54in an extension 55 of a finger,

always pressing upon one of the flats 52 excepting during the'time thatthe finger is being moved from one of its terminal positions to theother. The front side 56 of the seating 49, being that from which afinger starts on its traversing motion, is so positioned, that duringthat motion, it serves as an abutment for holding the finger up to itswork throughout it.

A finger 47 is tripped out of plate-engaging position in time,practically, for the next return motion, by any suitable type of pawlindependently arranged, say on the main frame, in such a way that at ornear the end of a fingers traversing motion it shall engage and rock thepawl out of its path, and after the finger has passed the pawl thelatter is returned by a spring into the return path of the finger intime to rock the latter to within its seating 49 whereit is out ofplate-engagin position. Such a device is shown in Figs. 15 and 16. 58 isa pawl and 59 its pivot carried by the main frame or a stationaryattachment fast to that frame so as tohold the lower part of the pawl inthe path of a finger 60 is a spring encircling the pivot 59 and fast byone end to the frame or attachment and by the other to the said pawl,and constantly urging the top of the pawl 58 into contact with a stop 61fixed to the frame or attachment on the side of that top toward which atraversing motion is made. There is one of these devices on each side ofthe apparatus at or near the entrance to each of the fixed positionsabove mentioned, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at 62, 63, 64.

The finger-extension 55 is too short to project into the path of a plate16 when the 7 corresponding finger 47 is within its seating 49.

After a finger 47 has been put out of plate-engaging position, it mustbe put into it again in time for its traversing motion to engage thenext plate. This is done by a block 65shown as reciprocable verticallyon the respective side frame 1 into and out of the path of eachfinger-extension 55, and with which that extension engages at or nearthe end of its return motion.

A traversing motion of the improved traverser is a little longer thanthe longest plate. For instance, that of the pair of fingers thattraverses a plate 16 into the shaving arch 7 is a little longer thanthat plate, and so with the other pairs of fingers. The object of thisextra length is connected with only the first pair of fingers justmentioned. This connection is explained at length further on.

Improved driving gear.After the traverser has traversed a set of platesinto their respective new positions, it makes, first, a return motionand then a traversing one, the two constituting one reciprocation. Thetime of a reciprocation may not be longer than that of a rotation of theshaft 19, to prevent loss of time. Further, a return motion of theimproved traverser must be long enough to allow the several pairs offingers to get into traversing position before their traversing motionstake them up to the ends of the plates. Now asit is practicallyimpossible to get a long motion directly from the first motion shaft 39,we have shown special means for providing it. These consist of a seriesof horizontal motions each derived from a respective circular motion anda motion-prolonging gear between certain of circular and horizontalmotions. The power for these special means is taken from the cam shaft 8through a spiral gear fast on it engaging a second spiral gear 81 faston a transverse shaft 82 to which is keyed a cam 83 having a face camgroove 84 embracing a roller 85 on a lever 86 fulcrumed at aconveniently positioned point 8'7 in the main frame. It has already beenexplained that the shaft 8 has the same rate of rotation as the shaft 19and as the gears 80 and 81 are equal, the cam groove 84 rotates once andthe lever 86 makes one reciprocation for each rotation of the said shaft19. The special means begin at the roller 85 and their details may bevaried. 88 is a link from the top end of the lever 86 to a block 89sliding in a horizontal guide fixed on the main frame. One face of thisblock 89, preferably the top one, carries or constitutes a horizontalrack 91 facing upward and engaging a gear 92 axially fast to a largerone 93 on each side of the apparatus and driving a gear 94 axially fastto a larger one 95 which engages with a rack 96 integral with therespective traverser bar 46. The three gears 92, 93, 93, are carried bya transverse shaft 97 and the four gears 94, 95, 94, 95, by a transverseshaft 98. From the roller 85 to the rack 91, is the first change; andfrom the gears 92 to the rack 96, the second one.

1 ig. 17 shows one variation in the details of these special means.According to it the link 89, guide and rack, are replaced by a segmentgear 90 on the outer end of the lever 86 and gearing with the gear 92.

2. Improved reboimd preventer 01* absorption of this rebound, so far aswe are aware, depend upon the relative strengths of springs. If theslide of a gravity fed plate into the shaving arch is at all late, sucha device may fail to act properly on the plate and the consequenceofthat is that one of the knives for dealing with the ends of the plate isbroken, or, what is worse, the plate itself may come to rest at a shortdistance from the said stop, the consequence of which incorrect positionis that the cut by the plate-end knife next the stop is too shallowlongitudinally, that by the opposite one is too deep, and the adjacentend of the concave face of the plate (because it is then overlapping therespective boring knife 15), is not bored at all, whereby the plate isspoilt. The improved device is shown best in Fig. 18. It possesseseither of two capacities, that of absorbing any back-lash that may showitself in the improved traverser-driving gear as well as of any reboundof a plate 16 from the exit-stop in the shaving arch 7, in which case itis a cushioning device located in the special means above described,between the lever 86 and the rack 91, or that of absorbing only thestated rebound of a plate 16, in which case it is located between thefirst pair of fingers 4L7, viz., the pair that traverses a plate intothe arch 7. The latter arrangement is shown in Fig. 18, and consists ofa bar spring 99 secured to a finger at a point, preferably, near itspivot 48 and, in any case, constituting its plate-engaging face, and anintermediate space shown as a recess 100 in the adjacent face of thefinger. The dimension of this recess in the direction of a traversingmotion of the improved traverser, is equal to the alreadv describedextra length of that motion. The action is that when the said pair offingers has traversed a plate 16 up to the said exit-stop, the spring 99absorbs any rebound that may be generated in it by its impact with thatstop, and the pair of fingers continuing to traverse, make the saidsprings follow the plate up, in which act the springs are backed up bythe fingers.

Plate-clamping means, (Fig. 3.)-The actions of the plate-support 11 andthe plateclamp 12, are exactly as described in the specification ofBritish Letters Patent No. 11139 of 1912, but the present inventionmoves the respective cams 9, 10, from the shaft 19 to the cam shaft 8.

The connection between the cam 9 and the plate-support 11 consists ofan. arm: 10.1.

fast on a rock-shaft 102, another arm 103 fast on the same shaft on theopposite side of it for each of the links 104, and the lat ter. 105 is aspring pulling from a fixed point on the respective side frame, on anarm 106 fast on the shaft 102 to keep the roller 107 on the arm 101 inconstant contact with the cam 9. The bottom end of each of as many links104; as there are, is

passed through a block 108 pivoted on the outer end of the respectivearm 103 and screw-threaded to carry a nut 109 above and one below theblock to adjust the distance which the constant rise of the arms 103 canraise the support 11, as may be required by variations in the versedsines of the plates.

The connection between the cam 10 and the plate-clamp 12, consists of anarm 110 fast on a rock-shaft 111, another arm 112 fast to the same shafton its opposite side for each of the links 113 connected to thehorizontal bar-114, also shown in said patout. The connection betweenthis bar and the plate-clamp 12 is as described in the specification ofthat patent. The spring 105, arm 106 and adjusting devices for the links113, are as just described with reference to the links 104.

3. Platc-springing-in jaws, (Fig. 3.) The object of the third part ofthe invention is to prevent the normal action of the springing-in jaws14 being frustrated by malformation on the typeless margins of a plate16. These margins are theoretically plane vertical surfaces parallelwith each other and both at a common distance from the versed sine ofthe plate. hen they are properly positioned, the said jaws movebothsides of the plate through an equal distance,the one calculated for.These sur-' faces are formed by what are known as the bolsters on thematrix at the time of casting, the bolster on each margin of the matrix,forming the respective typeless margin and projecting into the mold forthat purpose, whereby each margin is sunk in the plate relatively to thetype surface of the latter. It is practically impossible to rely uponboth the matrix margins being and continuing to be true to standard.Either or both bolsters may break at any point in their respectivelengths and the consequence is a lump on the respective typeless marginof the plate. Such a break age may happen with the first plate cast orwith the last one or with any intermediate one. Whenever it may happen,every plate cast afterward will have a lump accordingly. If that lump,say on one margin only, comes in the path of a jaw, that side of theplate is sprung too far toward the other. If there is a similarly placedlump on each margin, both sides of the plate are sprung too far.- And.springing together 40 prevented in spite of the next traversing too far,means that the boring knife will out too deeply into one or both sidesof the plate. Further, any lump, no matter what the position, modifiesthe effect of the law of momentum already referred to. If one is sopositioned as to hit a side stop at the exit-end of the shaving arch,the plate is kicked to one side with the consequence that all themachining done in the said arch, is at an angle with the axis of theplate whereby the latter is spoilt.

The action of the plate-springing jaws 14, 14 and their actuating cam 13is ex aotly as described in the specification of the said Letters-PatentNo. 11139 of 1912,

' but the advantages of that action are much increased by reason of thefacts that the constant and regular horizontal action of the traverseron both following ends of the typeless margins of a platesimultaneously, prevents the latter from varying either the rate or thedirection of its motion along the runway 5, 6, and that-if there is alump, even of a material size and on the leading .end of the margin, itcannot be productive of any mischief because it must cut a gash in andthrough itself against the respective jaw, large enough for the plate tocontinue its motion up to the exit-stop, without suffering any lateraldeviation on the runway.

The front ends of the jaws 1 1, may be sharpened to facilitate theirgashing action. 4. Improved means for locating a plate at the head ofthe runway-The object of this part of the invention is to prevent anunmachined plate being traversed toward the shaving arch 7, if it islocated by the attendant on the runway in any position other than thatin which the first pair of fingers is intended to engage it. Suchtraverse is motion of the traverser, bythe respective blocks whosefunction it willbe ren1em bered is to rock the first pair of fingers 47into plate-engaging position and which pair of blocks are for thepurpose of this object, retractable, being automatically held out of thereturn path of the respective finger-extensions 55 whereby therespective fingers 47 cannot be rocked into plate-engaging position.

For the reason that the length of plate to be machined may change at anytime, the invention arranges that a plate is set in any of the fixedpositions above mentioned, 11. 6., in either the shaving arch 7, on themain cooler 20, or on the drier 3 1, with its following end flush withthe respective end of the saidarch, cooler, or drier, as the case maybe, and this irrespective of the length of the plate.

Three improper locations of a plate are possible to the attendant. Hemay push the plate off the receiving table too late 'or he may not pushit far enough or he may push it too far. The proper position isindicated in Fig. 6 which also shows the pair of blocks 65 in positionfor rocking the respective fingers 47 into plate-engaging position.

The means by which the pair of blocks 65 is controlled, are shown bestin Figs. 5 and 6. Referring to them, 120 is a peripheral cam integralwith the cam 83 which, it will be remembered, rotates once for eachmotion of the traverser. The cam 120 nearly surrounds the cam 83,leaving a gap 121. 122 is an arm fast on a rock shaft 123 extendingacross the main frame and held in constant contact with the cam 120 by aspring 124k pulling on it from a fixed point 125 on the said frame. 126is an arm fast to each end of the rock shaft 123 and having its outerend pivotally connected to the bottom end of a slide 127 working inguides 128 fast on the side frame 1 and having the block 65 at its topend. So that once in each revolution, the gap 121 (and it is properlypositioned for the purpose) would allow the spring 124 to put the pairof blocks 65 into position for rocking the respective fingers 4L7 intoplate-engaging position, if that gap did not find the said blocksotherwise locked out of that position.

These blocks are so locked to meet the case of either a too-late or atoo-far location, by the combination on each side of the apparatus, ofwhat is practically a threearmed lever fulcrumed on the respective sideframe 1. A spring 129 pulling from a fixed point 130 on the side frame,on one arm 131, holds the opposite one 132 in the path of the straightside edge of a plate on its way from the table 2, and at the same timemakes the third arm 133 place a detent 13-1 fast on a rod 135 pivotallyconnected to the last-mentioned arm and work ing in a suitable fixedguide 136, over a lug 13 7 fast on the slide 127. So that, if thefollowing end of an unmachined plate is not holding down the arms 132,and obviously it will not be doing that in either of the two cases justput, the springs 129 will be looking the blocks 65 out of finger-rockingposition.

To meet the case of a not-far-cnough location, they are locked by thecombination likewise on each side of the apparatus, of a practicallythree-armed lever fulcrumed at 138 on the side frame 1. A spring 139pull.- ing from a fixed point 140 on that frame, on one arm 1 11 of thethree, holds a second one 142m the path of the straight side edge of aplate on its way from the table 2. At the same time this makes the thirdarm 143 place a detent 1 141 fast on a rod 14.5 pivotally connected tothe last-mentioned arm and working in a suitable fixed guide 146,

out of the path of a lug 1 17 fast on the slide 127. So that if thefollowing end of an unmachined plate is holding down the arms 142, andobviously it will be doing that if the attendant has not pushed it farenough along the runway, it will be also locking the blocks out offinger-rocking position.

5. lmpro vecl plate-stop at the emit-end of the skating arch.-The objectof this part of the invention is to provide at the exit end of theshaving arch a plate-stop adjustable to deal with any one of the severallengths of plate, the apparatus has to machine. Heretofore, the leadingend of a plate has registered with the exit end of the arch andtherefore only one stop was necessary. But seein that the presentinvention registers the fol owing end of a plate with the entrance endof the shaving arch, the position of a leading end within the arch willvary according to the length of the plate. To meet this new condition,the present invention provides as many stops as there are differentlengths of plate to be machined by one and the same apparatus. It may beexplained at this pointthat one plate prints one page of a newspaper andthat the change in plate-length may be eX- pected to occur only when anapparatus ceases to cater for a newspaper having one number of columnsto a page and begins to cater for one having a different number.

So long as the plates were traversed through the apparatus by gravity,it was necessary for the stop to be maintained in the plate-stoppingposition until after the plate-support 11 and plate-clamp 12 had bothbeen lowered to the runway level (eX cepting for a short time during theboring cycle when the stop was moved away to clear a plate-end-groovingknife). Otherwise a plate would have begun to slide out of the archbefore the said support and clamp were flush with the said level. Butnow that the traverse is a horizontal and mechanical one, that necessityhas disappeared. It is enough for the purpose of the present invention,that the stop in use shall be in plate-stopping position only just intime to stop the plate'at the moment it is far enough into the arch tobe clamped and to remain there until the bored plate is ready to leavethe arch. The means by which the said objects are attained are shownbest in Figs. 8 to 11. Referring to them, the apparatus is supposed tobe capable of machining plates of four dlfferent lengths of,respectively, 7, 8, 9 and 10 columns. The leading end of each lengthwill therefore occupy the respective one of the four positions 150 to153 shown in Fig. 8. As there are four different lengths, there are fourstops 154: to 157. As the arch 7 is as long as the longest plate-length,the respective stop 157 works outside and past the crown of that arch,while the other stops 15A, 155, and 156, work through the crown near theeXit-end of the arch. 158 is a bracket fast upon the top of the arch 7and so proportioned as to provide the fulcrum, or to support a fulcrumrod 159, for a transverse lever 160 the outer end of which is connectedby a link 161 to the outer end of a lever 162 fulcrumcd at 163 andhaving its opposite end fitted with a roller engaged in a grooved cam164 on the shaft 8. In the case of an apparatus to machine only onelength of plate, the single stop 157 is carried by the inner end of thelever 160, but if there is a plurality of stops, the inner arm of thelever becomes a plurality of arms 155. In either case, each stop isconnected to the respective arm by a pair of links 166 pivoted by theirtop ends to the outer end of the latter and by their bottom ends to thetop of the stop. All the stops excepting the one to be used, are put outof action for the time being, preferably by being put out of workingposition. This is done by withdrawing the respective pivot pins 167 fromthe bottom end of the links 166, swinging the links upward, pinning themto the respective arms 165, and holding up each idle stop by a pin 168.

The boring knife 15 is as long as the longest length of plate so that nochange or adjustment of it is necessary, but the knife 18 for groovingthe leading end of a plate 16, is adjustable in the radial arm thatcarries it, in a direction parallel with the length of a plate, in orderthat it may be set to act upon any length of plate.

6. Improved main cooler, (Figs. 12 and 13.)-In an apparatus throughwhich the plates were traversed by gravity down an inclined runway, themain cooler was necessarily inclined to the same angle. To insure aneven delivery of water through the crown of the saddle under thatcondition, it was -necessary to divide the surface of the saddletransversely into compartments as follows. For each compartment therewas a special supply pipe delivering into a chamber under the crown ofthe saddle and from which a small number of ports through the crown,delivered jets into respective recesses and against respective bafiieplates. As a result of the present invention, the known symmetricallypositioned supply pipe 23 delivers into a single chamber 170 from whichthe water passes through a single longitudinal port 171 along the crownof the saddle 20. With an inclined saddle there was always more or lessoverflow over the exit-end of the saddle and none over the entrance end.As a further result of this invention, the overflow if any is equal atboth ends and is received in an end gutter 174E delivering into theusual waste pan 175.

Although we have illustrated and described only several forms of ourinvention, we are aware of the fact that many changes and modificationscan, be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims;Therefore, we do not wish to be limited to all the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, but what we do claim is 1. Inan apparatus for machining curved stereotype plates, the combinationwith a runway along which plates of clifi'erent lengthsand weights cantravel, of a horizontally reciprocating traverser bar on each side ofthe apparatus at the level of the runway, a finger on each bar for eachmotion of the plate, the fingers on one bar being respectively oppositethose on the other, and located thereon to engage with the following endof a plate so as to push it along the runway, means for making thefingers during their return motions clear the respective plates, meansfor replacing them in plate-engaging positions in time for their nexttraversing motions, and means for reciprocating the two bars in unison.

2. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a runway along which the plates can travel,

7 of a horizontally reciprocating traverser bar on each side of therunway at the level thereof, a finger located on each bar for engagingthe plate and moving it along, means for causing the fingers duringtheir return motions to clear the stereotype plates, a pivot on whicheach finger is located on its bar, and means for stopping the pivotedfinger in its two limiting positions and loclcing it there.

3. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a runway along which the plates can travel, of areciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway at the levelthereof, a finger located on each bar for engaging the plate and movingit along, each bar also having an abutment for supporting the fingerthroughout its traversing motion, means for putting each finger out ofplate-engaging position at the end of each motion, and means forreturning it into plate-engaging position in time for its nexttraversing mo tion. 7 Y

4:. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a runway along which the plates can travel, of areciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway at the levelthereof, a finger movably located on each bar for engaging the plate andmoving it along, a pawl pivoted on the main frame of the apparatus inposition to be engaged by a plate, a spring for holding said pawl, meansfor putting each finger out of plate-engaging position at thecommencement of its next motion, said finger having an integralextension thereon, and a block on said frame for engaging said extensionand returning the finger into plateengaging position in time for itsnext platetraversing motion.

5. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a runway along which the plates can travel, of ahorizontally reciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway,rotary means for reciprocating the two bars in unison with a series ofintermittent horizontal motions, a finger located on each bar forengaging the plate and moving it along, means for causing the fingersduring their return motions to clear the stereotype plates, and meansfor placing them in plate-engaging position in time for their nexttraversing motions.

6. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a runway along which the plates can travel, of ahorizontally reciprocating traverserbar on each side of the runway atthe level thereof, a main shaving knife shaft, a cam, means forrotatingsaid cam at the same rate as said shaft, means operated by said cam forreciprocating the two bars intermittently, a gear for prolonging eachreciprocation, a finger located on each bar for engaging the plate andmoving it along, means for causing the fingers during their returnmotions to clear the stereotype plates, and means for placing them inplate-engaging position in time for their next traversing motion.

7. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a runway along which the plates can travel, of areciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway, a finger locatedon each bar for engaging the plate and moving it along, means forplacing the fingers in plate-engaging position in time for eachtraversing motion, a cam, a lever arranged to be oscillated by said cam,a horizontally sliding rack connected with said lever, a gear engagingsaid rack, a larger gear rotating with the first named gear, two gearsof different diameters fixed to each other, the smaller one meshing withthe first named larger gear, and a rack connected with one of saidtraversing bars and meshing with the larger one of said two gears foroperating the traversing bars.

8. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a runway along which the plates can travel, of ahorizontally reciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway, afinger located on each bar for engaging the plate and moving it along, apivot on which each finger is located on its bar, and a cushioningdevice on each of said fingers for following up the plate and absorbingany back lash in the reciprocation and any rebound in the plate.

9. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination. with a runway along which the plates can travel, of areciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway at the levelthereof, a finger located on each bar for engaging the plate and movingit along, a pivot on which each finger is located on its bar, means forstopping the pivoted finger in its two limiting positions and looking itthere, each of the first pair of fingers on the two bars being providedwith an operative face having a bar spring secured thereto, andprojecting therefrom transversely tothe direction of motion, said fingerand bar having a space between them toward the end of the spring.

10. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a shaving arch having a runway along which the platescan travel, of a reciprocating traverser bar at the side of the runway,a finger located on said bar for engaging the plate and moving it along,and a plate springing jaw in the shaving arch having means for gashingany lump on the margin of the plate that may come into contact with it.

11. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a shaving arch having a runway along which the platescan travel, of a reciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway,a finger located on each bar for engaging the plate and moving it along,means for causing the fingers during their return motions to clear thestereotype plates, means for placing them in plate-engaging position intime for their next traversing motion, and means controlled by thelocation on the runway of an unmachined plate for replacing the fingersinto position for traversing the plate into the shaving arch.

12. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a shaving arch, and a runway along which the plates cantravel, of a reciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway, afinger located on each bar for engaging the plate and moving it along,means for causing the fingers during their return motlons to clear thestereotype plates, means for placing them in plate-engaging position intime for their next traversing motions, and means operative forreplacing the fingers into position to engage a plate and move it intothe shaving arch.

13. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a shaving arch, and a runway along which the plates cantravel, of a reciprocating traverser bar on each'side of the runway, afinger located on each bar for engaging the plate and moving it along,means for causing the fingers during their return motions to clear thestereotype plates, a cam operating synchronously with the traversingbar, and means controlled by said cam for replacing the fingers inplate-engaging position after they have moved a plate into the shavingarch.

14. In a machine for finishing stereotype plates, the combination with ashaving arch, and'a reciprocating traverser bar having a movable fingerthereon for engaging the plate and moving the plate into the shavingarch, of means controlled by the position of an unmachined plate foroperating said finger into position to engage the plate, and meansoperating synchronously with said traversing bar for replacing thefinger in plate engaging position.

15. In an apparatus for finshing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a shaving arch, and a runway along which the plates cantravel, of a reciprocating traverser bar on each side of the runway, afinger located on each bar for engaging the plate and moving it along,means for causing the fingers during their return motions to clear thestereotype plates, a cam connected to rotate once for each reciprocationof the traverser bars having a single gap therein, finger replacingblocks, transversely reciprocableslides on which said blocks arelocated, means for connecting the cam with said slides for operatingthem, and a spring for moving the blocks into position for replacing thefingers in plate-engaging position, the gap in said cam being arrangedto permit the'operation of said spring periodically.

16. In an apparatus for finishing curved stereotype plates, thecombination with a shaving arch, and a runway along which the plates cantravel, of a reciprocating trav erser bar on each side of the runway atthe level thereof, a finger located on each bar for engaging the plateand moving it along, a three-arm lever, a spring connected with one ofsaid arms to hold another one in the path of an unmachined plate on therunway, a finger replacing block, means connected with the third arm ofsaid lever for holding the plate replacing block out of operativeposition, and means operated by said block for replacing the finger intoposi tion for traversing a plate into the arch.

17 In an apparatus for finishing stereotype printing plates, thecombination with a shaving arch and a runway therefor, of a series ofstops for the plate located at different positions along the runway nearthe exit-end of-the arch, and means whereby all of said 7 v stops butone can be put out of action for the purpose of using the desired one ofthem 18. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype printing plates, thecombination with a shaving arch and a runway therefor, of a series ofstops for the plate located at different positions along the runway nearthe exit-end of the arch, means whereby all of said stops can be put outof action for the purpose of using the desired one of them, and a knifefor cutting the leading edge of HERBERT PEARCE. THOMAS ROBERT GILLET'lPARKER. WILLIAM EDWARD BENNISON.

Witnesses MALCOLM SMET Rs'r, ERNALD. SIMPSON MOSELEY.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. Q.

